Farm News – September 18, 2014

by Bryan Housel ·
Published September 15, 2014
· Updated September 24, 2014

Circle Brook Farm

Hello Everyone, We continue on the dry side here at the farm, having received a paltry 0.3 inches from Saturdays drizzle and light rain. At least it came slowly, allowing the soil to soak it up. We have another slight chance of precipitation on Monday night into Tuesday morning. We are making the best of it, using overhead irrigation to germinate seeds and keep the fall brassica crop growing.

String bean production has fizzled out partly due to the dryness and partly due to persistent midnight grazing of the plants by the deer. We have the crop enclosed with a temporary fence but they still manage to find ways to get in. The deer have also been reeking destruction on the winter squash and pumpkin crop; part of which we recently fenced in as well. I have taken to patrolling the fields in my car with a spotlight each night about eleven, just before I go to bed! I chase them and then they probably come back an hour later. It is a bit futile but I am also teaching my newly acquired puppy what her job will be when she grows up!

Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant are still abundant. We have more plum tomatoes now, so we will be trying to give everyone a good amount of these to cook with over the next 2 weeks. Some groups received cherry tomatoes last week, the rest will get these this week or next. Beans were also shipped to some folks last week; those who did not have these can expect some this week or next as well. We also have a few Lima beans which we will be sending as an extra. It’s time for your biweekly dose of cabbage- this time it will be Napa, aka Chinese. Broccoli will be starting again soon!

The share for this week will be: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, potatoes, leeks, Napa cabbage, spaghetti squash, salad turnips or radishes, choice of arugula or tatsoi, spinach, and choice of an herb.